Meet our team.
Get in touch
If you wish to contact us, you’re welcome to send us an email: firstname.lastname@chief.fi
You’ll find our consultants’ direct phone numbers below. We are also happy to connect - by clicking our names, you’ll find our LinkedIn profiles.
Vesa Schutskoff
Partner
+358 40 511 4489
”I understand the importance of comprehending client companies' business and strategy to support executive teams and boards.”
With 10+ years in executive recruitment and strategic implementation, he held director roles in Northern Finland's technical wholesale and financial sectors for around 8 years. His 10-year cadet officer experience focused on leadership training and commissioning in the Defence Forces.
Vesa’s background emphasizes leadership, consulting, coaching, B2B sales, client engagement, and organizational development. Vesa takes a holistic approach aligned with goals, and his proactive, active, and analytical nature prioritizes practical implementation.
During free time, Vesa's family focuses on children, hobbies, household tasks, and shared outdoor activities. Their hobbies revolve around physical pursuits.
With a deep understanding of client companies, Vesa effectively supports executive teams and boards.
Eija Laine
Senior Partner
+358 40 809 2997
Eija is an exceptional executive search consultant who is passionate about developing the executive search industry and making it more humane, transparent, and diversity-driven. Eija is thanked for her drive, perseverance, and commitment to delivering challenging executive search assignments.
Eija’s versatile experience and extensive network give her an excellent combination to drive better leadership and sustainable hirings. She has worked with C-suite clients across a number of industries and roles. Consulting and sparring with clients and candidates are at her core, making her a trusted partner for executive teams and boards.
Prior to joining the executive search industry, Eija has been leading people to excel in growth mainly in the tech world. She has worked as a CEO and Sales Director within tech, SaaS, and digital comms industries.
In her free time, Eija enjoys social life in all of its forms; sports, events, parties, family, and new adventures. Recently she has challenged herself to balance better and find tranquillity.
Aija Bärlund
Partner
+358 40 681 0245
Aija is a leadership and business developer, CEO, board and committee member, and chair with experience from Finland, Scandinavia, Central Europe, and China.
@Chief Executive Search Helsinki her focus is on C-level and Board assignments. She supports and coaches company owners, boards, and leadership teams in finding the best fit for their talent and leadership challenges. She has a versatile management consulting background e.g. with growth and internationalization, market and competitor intelligence, foresight, business scenarios and strategy, technology and service development, ESG, and strategic sustainability.
Aija has developed leadership teams since 2005 and extended to ownership and board development in 2014. She has experience in the public and private sectors, with startups, venture capitalists, and listed companies, especially in the IT sector. Aija is also a certified Coach by the Finnish Coaching Association. Aija has also written books about The Future of Finnish Leadership, Winning Management Teams, Strategy Work, Sustainable Leadership, Climate Change, and Sustainable Board Work.
Aija is a Certified Board Member, Boardman Partner & Sustainability Forum Chair, and Partner of Hallituspartnerit Helsinki - Board Professionals. She serves on several boards e.g. Board and Committee member at the Nordic Boards Impact Forum, the World Economic Forum climate initiative.
In wintertime, you can find Aija Nordic skating in the Espoo archipelago. She also loves sailing, golf, and culture in various forms.
Sanna Juva
Associate Partner
+358 40 725 6574
Sanna’s mission is to support leaders to find and live their purpose and help client companies to grow and prosper.
Sanna’s experience within executive search has covered various challenging C-level assignments. Her analytical acumen and passion for connecting exceptional leaders with exceptional companies make her an invaluable asset to our clients and candidates. Sanna's skills are particularly instrumental in the early stages of identifying and attracting the most exceptional leaders in the market.
Before joining Chief, Sanna worked as the Head of Research and a member of the Finnish management team at Wise People Group, a Nordic executive search, recruitment, and HR consulting company. Sanna holds a MSc in economics, from LUT University majoring in knowledge management and leadership.
Outside of work, Sanna enjoys an active lifestyle including dancing, swimming, and going to the gym. In addition, she is a part-time artist and has custom-made two paintings for our office.
Pia Pursiainen
Partner
+358 44 540 0654
As an experienced CEO, board member, and consultant, Pia supports Chief's clients with her experience in developing leadership and governance on the highest level.
Pia strongly believes that the success of companies is driven by interactive teams aligned with the company's strategy and lifecycle when individuals' skills and experiences complement each other.
At Chief, Pia is passionate to help Chief's clients in finding capable CEOs and in building well-functioning and diverse boards. This will enable our clients to develop, grow and prosper also in the future.
Pia currently serves as a board member in several companies, as well as a Certified Board Member (HHJ in Finnish) program coach, and she participates as an active member of Hallituspartnerit and Yrityskummit.
In her free time, Pia enjoys her life as a soccer mom and recharges her batteries in the tranquillity of nature.
Anu Suomäki
Associate Partner
+358 40 759 9984
Anu is an accomplished executive search professional with wide experience in roles at all levels including C-suite and board. She has a sharp analytical and solution-oriented mind with the ability of getting things done.
Anu has a broad knowledge in talent acquisition and sourcing both in Finland and internationally, with a strong customer focus. Throughout her years in executive search, she has gained extensive knowledge in different industries, company and ownership structures.
She enjoys working together with her clients to find a most suitable solution for their diverse needs. She has published research in work engagement for different generations thus possesses a deep understanding of the versatile candidate market as well.
Outside of work, Anu spends time with her close ones, enjoys biking, winter swimming and hiking and is always looking for new trails as a dog mom for two Border Collies. She’s a singer and ukulele player with music playing an important role in her well-being in general.
Kirpi Salonen
Associate Partner
+358 40 512 0257
(Kirpi is currently on maternity leave)
Kirpi specializes in consulting clients on their strategic hires across industries. She is intellectually curious and promotes diversity of thought and long-term thinking at her work. Kirpi has successfully conducted hundreds of executive search assignments including CEO, Board Member, and executive appointments as well as suitability assessments and coaching. She has experience conducting projects for public, private equity, and privately held companies.
Prior to joining Chief, Kirpi was leading and controlling project delivery and securing excellence of service at one of the top global executive search firms in Helsinki. In addition, She leverages her HRD, recruitment, and employer branding experience and multicultural background. Having lived in five countries she is familiar with diverse and cross-cultural working environments. Kirpi holds an MSc (International Strategic Management) degree from Lund University. She is also a certified employer branding professional and executive coach.
Outside work, she enjoys spending time with her close ones either in sports activities such as tennis, swimming, gym, running, or traveling and enjoying culinary experiences.
Hannu-Matias Nurmi
Founder & Senior Partner
+358 40 809 5291
“How could an executive recruited by Chief perform better in their job at 12 months than the same candidate hired through another search firm would have?”. This essential question resulted in Hannu-Matias founding Chief Executive Search and challenging the norms of this industry.
What truly sets Hannu-Matias apart is his ability to coach and consult C-level executives, board members, and owners in a long-term trusted relationship. Clients choose him as their partner in C-level hirings because of his ability to link leadership capabilities to strategy, culture, and business. Hannu-Matias is thanked for his true commitment to our clients and he is always ready to take the extra mile in delivering excellent executive search – and beyond.
Hannu-Matias has over 10 years of experience in executive search. Before founding Chief, Hannu-Matias worked as a CEO of a SaaS company. He has also worked as a CEO of an animation studio before joining the executive search industry. In addition, Hannu-Matias is the author of the book called “Toimitusjohtaja” (eng. CEO), awarded as one of the top 5 business books in Finland in 2022 by Suomen Ekonomit.
In his free time, Hannu-Matias is focusing on a different kind of coaching – he is a football coach for two junior teams in Kulps. He also enjoys spending time with his family and friends.
